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When the Australian Girls Choir visited Samoa, they not only promoted music but also promoted unity in diversity. Their song entitled 'We are one but we are many' sums-up the idea of a one Australia. Members were selected from all corners of the country forming a special and a unique choir for girls of Australia.
The forty-nine member group visited Samoa in April, along with six teachers. The visit was not only a cultural learning opportunity for the girls, but as ambassadors of Australia doing performances around Samoa. The touring group was selected from a pool of over 3,000 choristers in Australia.
The Australian Girls Choir was welcomed on their arrival at Faleolo airport by the Samoa Visitor's Bureau cultural group. The touring party then went on to their first engagement at Papauta Girls College where they were welcomed with the traditional 'ava'
ceremony.
The orientation stage was next; showing the girls around the campus and a tour of the school's faculties. Don Bosco,
a Catholic
Polytechnic for Boys was the second visit for the girls, who were
impressed with the skills and Samoan approach to getting things done.
The Australian Girls Choir hosted a public 'fiafia' night celebration in which they performed an exciting repertoire of harmonies and a few operatic songs. Performing to a full house, the girls further demonstrated their professionalism by singing the anthem of Don Bosco in Samoan.
The fact that this song was practised
and learnt in one day and performed so beautifully on performance night
is dumbfounding. Julie Kurfew, the
leader of the visiting group in her closing remarks added that their visit is an event to be remembered because of the beauty of Samoa in her surroundings and the friendliness and the kindness of her people. Julie also acknowledged and thanked the Mulivai Catholic 9:15 am congregation for hosting the group.
The visit was the first time for the group to explore the sights of Samoa as one of the beautiful countries in the Pacific, after travelling through Europe and the United States. Libby, one of the teachers, said that the group would definitely come back to Samoa sometime in the future.
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